Examining the AK Party government's discourse on Syrian migrants in Türkiye through the lens of right-wing populism

This thesis aims to examine the migration discourse shaped under the AK Party government in Türkiye through the lens of right-wing populism, focusing on Syrian migrants. Populism is regarded as a dynamic political approach that manifests in diverse forms across contemporary geographical and political settings. Although there is no single universally accepted definition in the literature, populism is most commonly conceptualized as a thin-centered ideology or a political strategy built upon a dichotomy between the "pure people" and the "corrupt elites". Nonetheless, how populism is formed and functions differ considerably depending on the social, cultural, economic, and political conditions that surround it. In this respect, right-wing populism, often associated with anti-migrant sentiment and xenophobia, may offer a useful model for Western contexts. Yet, it remains insufficient for explaining the diverse practices that emerge in other political and cultural environments. Prominently, anti-migrant and xenophobic discourses and policies in Western right-wing populist movements receive widespread public support. The politicization and securitization of migration serve as instruments strongly associated with right-wing populism. Within the study, the AK Party, often classified as right-wing populist in the literature, is examined as an example that diverges from conventional definitions of right-wing populism. Instead of adopting the anti-migrant discourse prevalent in Western contexts, the AK Party demonstrates an inclusive approach toward migrants, distinguishing it from conventional definitions of right-wing populism in the literature. In this regard, the study conducts a thematic analysis of various speeches by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the context of migration. This analysis aims to reveal how the AK Party's migration discourse diverges from the anti-migrant narratives of right-wing populist parties in the West. In doing so, it seeks to understand how Syrian migrants are positioned within the "us versus them" dichotomy in the discourse.